Helical ramp life-preserver

ABSTRACT

The present Patent of invention “HELICAL RAMP LIFE-PRESERVER” refers to a model of helical ramp, aimed for collective use, for immediate rescue of lives subjected to a probable fire, to be used in buildings of any height, or in places that cannot be reached by the devices currently in use, such as “Magirus” stairs, or even in those where these devices can reach, but a probable delay to help would put in risk people&#39;s life in an eventual emergency state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is a 371 of PCT/BR01/00003, filed Jan. 9, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention uses a helical ramp for immediate rescue of livessubjected to the hazard of a fire. The system can be used in buildingsof any height, or in places that cannot be reached by the devicescurrently in use, such as “Magirus” stairs, or even in those placeswhere these devices can reach, but a probable delay would put people'slives in an emergency state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Currently, it happens that in most of the fires in buildings, delay offiremen's arrival is due to traffic jams or other difficulties, or ofthe remoteness of the location, or even because of inadequate equipment.These facts lead to negative rescue statistics in large fires. Otherhazards arise due to stairways in closed spaces being filled with smoke,and therefore being impassable due to lack of oxygen. Even if stairs areaccessible, handicapped people, old people, and also children and petsmay still be at risk.

Fire extinguishers can reduce fire hazards, but they are often notproperly maintained, and can be inadequate for large fires at any rate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was developed to preserve the lives of people andanimals that work or live in buildings. The system utilizes a helicalramp, intended for collective use, for the immediate rescue of thosesubjected to a fire. The system is intended to be used in buildings ofany height, or in places that cannot be reached by the devices currentlyin use, such as “Magirus” stairs. The system can also be used whereprior art devices can reach, but where a delay in assistance would putat risk people's lives in an emergency. The design of the helical rampaims to help any kind of rescue, filling gaps in the current techniques,and to solve the present problems of fire emergency systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building with a ramp system of thepresent invention using dual ramps.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dual ramp itself.

FIG. 2 a is a detail view of sections of the ramp shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a building with a ramp system installed.

FIG. 3 a is a detail view of the outlined sections of the ramp shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a building with a ramp system with tworamps installed.

FIG. 4 a is a detail view of the outlined sections of the ramp shown inFIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a building with a ramp system with tworamps installed.

FIG. 5 a is a detail view of the exit section of the ramp.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a building with a ramp system with tworamps installed.

FIG. 6 a is a detail view of the water supply.

FIG. 7 shows the water supply route to the ramp.

FIG. 7 a is a detail view of the outlined section in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a building with a ramp system installed.

FIG. 8 a is a detail view of the outlined section in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a building with a ramp system installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1–5, the helical ramp emergency exit system ofthe present invention has at least one helical ramp supported by ametallic structure. The ramps are fixed on the building and aresupported in the earth by pillars, blocks, and stakes (if necessary).Access to the ramps is provided through fire retardant doors 1 that leadfrom the building to attached catwalks 2. A safety railing 3 is mountedon the edge of the catwalks 2. The catwalks 2 are made of metal orconcrete. The catwalks 2 provide easy access to the embarking platforms4. The embarking platforms 4 feed in to the main body of the helicalramp 6. The helical ramp 6 winds around central supporting pillars, withstraight and curved sections. the sections of the ramp 6 are supportedby rigid braces 5 that are situated between the ramp 6 and thesupporting pillars. People in the ramp 6 are visible from the catwalks2, so that evacuation of the building is orderly. When people reach theoutlet 7 of the ramp 6, they slide safely into a pool 8.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, water is supplied to the ramp 6 fromreservoirs 9 placed on top of the building. The water flows throughsupply lines 10 and is directed into the embarking platforms 4 by jets11. Supplying water to the ramp 6 greatly reduces the friction betweenthe evacuees' bodies and the ramp 6.

The ramps 6 should have safety bars, such as a balustrade, along itscourse, so as to avoid falls. If possible, the ramp 6 should be placedat the rear of the building to reduce visibility.

As depicted in the drawings, a door 1 is provided on each floor of thebuilding. The doors 1 provide access to the catwalks 2. The catwalks 2can be made of any incombustible material, and should provide enoughspace to shelter the inhabitants of one or more floors of the building.It is preferable that the ramp 6 be installed on a portion of thebuilding without windows, so that smoke and fire are inhibited fromreaching the ramp 6. If windows are present, fireproof curtains can beutilized. The section of the building with the ramp 6 is designatedexclusively for the rescue ramp 6. (The ramp 6 could be common to twobuildings.)

In use, people in danger would run to the doors 1, and consequently tothe catwalks 2. From there, they would have access to the ramp 6 via theembarking platforms 4. The ramp 6 is supported by pillars, and it canalso be attached directly to the building.

The slope of the ramp 6 is calculated as a function of the distancebetween floors, with enough inclination to allow sliding withoutproblems, but not so much inclination that unsafe speeds are reached.The purpose of the ramp 6 is to rescue the largest number of peoplepossible. Each ramp 6 can evacuate approximately 48 people per minute.The ramp 6 provides easy access, requires little maintenance, and can bebuilt with a minimum cost, because it doesn't have moving parts.

It should be noted that at the bottom of the ramp 6, the angle of theoutlet 7 is chosen to allow the reduction of speed. The outlet 7 willtypically be made from a material such as fiberglass mixed with asbestoscement or even steel. A sand pit or water pool 8 is provided at the endof the outlet 7 to provide space to get out of others' way, and so thatpeople do not accumulate at the end of the outlet 7.

The water jets 11 will be controlled by the opening of the doors 1themselves. Water is supplied from two dedicated water reservoirs 9. Thesize of the reservoirs 9 will be based on the size of the ramp 6 and thepopulation of the building.

The cross section of the ramp 6 may be a “U”, (FIG. 2, element 4-B), orsemi-rectangular (FIG. 2, element 4-A), or the ramp 6 could be tubular,depending on the particular requirements of a given application. Thematerials for the ramp 6 can be metal, acrylic, polycarbonate, or othermaterials compatible with the safety and stability objectives.

The ramp 6 is irrigated by the water reservoirs 9 placed on the top ofthe building and fed by a pumping system with an independent generator,or through a solar energy system, or batteries. The ramp 6 mustaccommodate the flow of water by the force of gravity from the waterreservoirs 9 placed on the top of the building. The feed pipes 10 extendalong the whole ramp 6, with the water system being activated by theopening of any of the doors 1.

The ramp was designed for a building of 20 floors (60 m high), with amean area of 500 m². It was assumed that there would be 1 person pereach 25 m², or 20 people on each floor. Multiplied by 20 floors, weassume 400 people, with a 20% floating population (typical for apartmentbuildings), which results in 480 people to be evacuated. The estimatedslide time for a height of 60 m at 12 m/s results in an individual slidetime of 5 seconds (60/12=5). As the ramp 6 has enough space for twopeople at the same time, (or four people when two ramps 6 are coupled),in each interval of 1 second, 4 people could slide down. If we divide480/4 and we multiply by 5, we arrive at the total time for theevacuation of the building as 600 seconds, or 10 minutes.

The above disclosure is not intended as limiting. Those skilled in theart will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations ofthe device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only bythe restrictions of the appended claims.

1. A device for emergency exit from a building comprising: a helicalramp adjacent to a wall of the building, at least one means for accessto said ramp from the building, a water supply that pumps water intosaid ramp when said water supply is triggered, said water supplyincluding at least one reservoir located on a top of the building and alanding area at a lower end of said ramp: such that when evacuation ofthe building is desired, users enter said ramp via said means foraccess, slide down said ramp, and exit said ramp into said landing areato leave the building.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein: said helicalramp comprises both straight and curved sections.
 3. The device of claim1 wherein: said means for access to said ramp comprises a fire retardantdoor.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein: said means for access to saidramp comprises a catwalk between a door from the building and anembarking platform that feeds into said ramp.
 5. The device of claim 4wherein: said catwalk is bordered by a safety rail.
 6. The device ofclaim 1 wherein: said water supply includes at least one supply linethat extends a length of said ramp.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein:said water supply includes at least one jet that directs water onto saidramp.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein: said ramp comprises an outletarea, said outlet area having an angle on inclination that slows usersto a safe speed.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein: said landing areacomprises a water pool.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein: said landingarea comprises a sand pit.
 11. The device of claim 1 wherein: saiddevice comprises two helical ramps installed in tandem.
 12. The deviceof claim 1 wherein: said ramp is affixed directly to the building. 13.The device of claim 1 wherein: said ramp is supported by pillars.